Project 543 tells the story of unique spots across North Carolina we hope will become some of your favorite places. Why 543? Because that’s the number of miles from Manteo, on the coast, to Murphy, in the mountains, and is traditionally considered to be the width of our state. The entries in this project are in no particular order, and we’ll add to them each week. Check in often to find inspiration for your next trip, or start planning today at VisitNC.com.

What is Project 543?

Project 543 tells the story of unique spots across North Carolina we hope will become some of your favorite places. Why 543? Because that’s the number of miles from Manteo, on the coast, to Murphy, in the mountains, and is traditionally considered to be the width of our state. The entries in this project are in no particular order, and we’ll add to them each week. Check in often to find inspiration for your next trip, or start planning today at VisitNC.com.

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Visit NASCAR’s largest race shop

There’s only one team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a record 11 car-owner championships and only one place to visit that houses the four biggest names in the sport’s premier series — Hendrick Motorsports. Founded in 1984, the Concord-based team is the current home of 12-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon, six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and 17-time Cup winner Kasey Kahne. Visitors to the 430,000-square-foot facility can watch as teams prepare the Chevrolet SS race cars to hit the track, take in a pit crew practice and tour the Hendrick Motorsports museum. Located just 1 mile from Charlotte Motor Speedway, it’s a convenient stop for fans attending the May or October race weekends.